Faculty Union Update

Faculty Union Update

Together, we’re building a strong faculty union on campus, and our recent landslide victories in Roski and the International Academy are just the beginning. We’re writing to you today with exciting news and important updates.

In an effort to squash our growing unionization effort, administrators ramped up their anti-union campaign during the recent election. Desperate to silence faculty voices, the university threatened Dornsife faculty who voted in favor of unionization with the loss of representation in faculty governance, and repeatedly intimidated and pressured faculty into voting no through a coordinated campaign of emails and on-campus meetings with USC leadership.

As reported in the Los Angeles Times, faculty immediately filed an election objection with the National Labor Relations Board, calling on the Board to re-run the election in a fair and neutral environment, free from University pressure or influence.

After reviewing statements made by Provost Quick, the NLRB found sufficient cause to order a hearing to determine whether USC violated labor law, a finding which would result in a new election. This process is ongoing, and we will keep you updated.

After Landslide Victories in the Roski School and International Academy, Faculty Prepare to Bargain Their First Contract

Even after landslide victories in the Roski School and International Academy, where faculty voted overwhelmingly to join SEIU 721, the University has continued its anti-union campaign in earnest. Instead of respecting our decision to come together for a strong, collective voice for ourselves and our students, the University has refused to recognize the Roski vote and has promised to seek a new ruling from the NLRB classifying all faculty in the Roski School as managers.

To be clear: this attempt at mischaracterizing Roski faculty is merely a frivolous appeal meant to deny faculty a real voice on campus through unionization.

Last week, faculty from the International Academy and the Roski School met to begin discussing next steps in the bargaining process. In the coming weeks, all faculty in Roski and the International Academy will receive bargaining surveys. These surveys will help determine our priorities as we begin to negotiate our new, strong contract with the University.

We remain committed to building a vibrant faculty union in all schools on campus, and hope you will join as we fight to raise standards for ourselves and the students we teach.

Thank you,

Kaz Shida, International Academy
Alexis Disselkoen, Roski School of Art and Design
Rafael Levi, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences